Advocates of D-block reallocation had high hopes for the payroll tax bill passed by the House last week that included language that would provide spectrum and funding for a nationwide Public Safety broadband network, but the Senate chose to pass a two-month compromise instead, excluding any D-block language.
According to Urgent Communications, it is still possible for the House to shoot the bill down and pursue further negotiation for a full year tax bill, in which case D-block might be re-introduced into the bill again. Although some Public Safety officials were troubled by the governance and giveback language of the previous bill passed by the House, it was the closest the first responder community has come to achieving reallocation of the 10 MHz of D-block spectrum.
Hope and enthusiasm are slowly being replaced by frustration and a new sense of urgency surrounding D-block reallocation. Since this year's tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the push to fulfill this recommendation of the 9/11 Commission has been gaining momentum.
There is still a chance the House will reject the compromise and try to push for a full year agreement that could include D-block language, but many believe this is a long shot.
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